3043 RUSSIA (Moscow) - Kremlin and Red Square, Moscow (UNESCO WHS)

3043 Moscow Kremlin seen from the Moscow River

Inextricably linked to all the most important historical and political events in Russia since the 13th century, the Kremlin (built between the 14th and 17th centuries by outstanding Russian and foreign architects) was the place where the Russian state was formed, where the issue of succession to the throne was decided, in medieval times, where the Boyar Duma held its sessions, where the Church held its councils and where were crowned the tsars, even when the capital had been shifted to St. Petersburg.

From 1918, the Kremlin become once more the center of state and political life, its name being used as a metonym to refer to the government of the Soviet Union, and after 1991 to the government of the Russian Federation. On the other hands, the Kremlin contains within its walls a unique series of masterpieces of architecture and the plastic arts. Throughout its history, Russian architecture has clearly been affected many times by influences emanating from the Kremlin.

There are religious monuments of exceptional beauty such as the Cathedral of the Dormition, the Cathedral of the Annunciation, the Cathedral of the Archangel Michael, the Church of the Twelve Apostles and the exquisite one-domed Church of the Deposition of the Virgin's Robe, and the Ivan the Great Bell Tower ; there are palaces such as the Grand Kremlin Palace, which comprises within its walls the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin and the Terem Palace.

Red Square, often considered the central square of Moscow, separates the Kremlin from a historic merchant quarter known as Kitai-gorod. The construction of the square was finished by the late 19th century together with the erection of the Imperial Historic Museum (today the State Historical Museum), the Upper Trading Rows (GUM) and the Middle Trading Rows. In 1929, Lenin's Mausoleum, designed by A.V. Shchusev and an outstanding example of the Soviet monumental architecture, was finished. On square is also St Basil's Basilica, one of the most beautiful Russian Orthodox monuments.

Kremlin and Red Square, Moscow, which become an UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1990, contains the following objects (the ones with links are presented on the blog):

• Moscow Kremlin Wall
• Kremlin towers
• Kremlin Arsenal
• Tsar Cannon
• Kremlin Armoury
• Cathedral of the Dormition
• Cathedral of the Annunciation
• Cathedral of the Archangel Michael
• Church of the Twelve Apostles
• Church of the Deposition of the Virgin's Robe
• Ivan the Great Bell Tower
• Palace of Facets
• Grand Kremlin Palace
• Church of the Nativity of the Virgin
• Teremnoi Palace
• Red Square
• Saint Basil's Cathedral
• Imperial Historic Museum (State Historical Museum)
• Upper Trading Rows (GUM)
• Middle Trading Rows
• Lenin's Mausoleum
• Monument to Minin and Pozharsky

Stamps
The first stamp is part of the series Cities of Military Glory (continuation), designed by B. Beltiukov and issued on  April 15, 2010. The honorary title of the Russian Federation City of Military Glory is assigned "for the courage, fortitude and heroism shown by the defenders of the city in the fight for freedom and independence of the Motherland." This title has continued the tradition started in the USSR awarding the cities highest distinction - the title of Hero City. Today, in 45 cities of the Russian Federation, which was awarded this honorary title. All five stamps have the same face values (10 RUB)
• Malgobek
• Yelnya - It's on the postcard 3043
• Yelets
• Voronezh
• Luga 
 
The second stamp is part of the series State Awards of the Russian Federation (continuation), designed by  Moscovets A. and issued on February 19, 2016. State awards of the Russian Federation are the highest form of recognition of outstanding services delivered by citizens in the defense of the Fatherland, as well as in state-building; achievements in economy, science, culture, art, pedagogy, education; protection of health, lives and rights of the citizens; charitable activities and other outstanding services rendered to the state. All 18 stamps of the series have the same face values (25 RUB).
• Gold Star Medal
• Hero of Labor of the Russian Federation Gold Medal
• Order of St Andrew the Apostle the First-Called
• Order of St George
• Order for Merit to the Motherland
• Order of St Catherine the Great Martyr
• Order of Alexander Nevsky
• Order of Suvorov
• Order of Ushakov
• Order of Zhukov
• Order of Kutuzov
• Order of Nakhimov
• Order of Courage
• Order of Military Merit
• Order of Naval Merit - It's on the postcard 3043
• Order of Honor
• Order of Friendship
• Parental Glory Order 

References
Kremlin and Red Square, Moscow - UNESCO official website
Moscow Kremlin - Wikipedia
Red Square - Wikipedia

Sender: Nadya Rybolovleva (direct swap)
Sent from Moscow (Moscow / Russia), on 02.05.2017